Five arrested in Poland in plywood smuggling case

EU sanctions enforcement action

Five people have been detained in Poland in connection with a case of circumvention of sanctions on imports of plywood and timber products from Russia and Belarus, according to Timber Industry News. Those detained range in age from 43 to 64 and include four Polish nationals and one Russian citizen.

The investigation targets illegal imports of birch plywood and decorative wooden slats, which are subject to EU sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus. According to published information, the suspects allegedly used forged contract documents and fraudulent information in customs declarations to conceal the real origin of the products.

Background on EU timber sanctions

The case is part of EU efforts to step up enforcement of economic sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian forestry sector. Birch plywood is an essential material for the furniture industry, used in furniture, cabinetry and construction.

European furniture manufacturers have historically struggled with dependence on Russian and Belarusian plywood, considered a high-quality material at competitive prices. Sanctions have put significant pressure on supply chains, prompting companies to identify alternative sources in Finland, the Baltic states or North America, often at higher costs.

The Polish authorities have not disclosed further details on the volumes of products involved or the value of the transactions investigated. No information has been made public about any companies involved in the scheme or the duration of the investigations.

Source

Timber Industry News - Report on the detention of five people in Poland